Limb protector for hockey players and the like



July 12, 1966 5, DAIGNAULT 3,259,910

LIMB PROTECTOR FOR HOCKEY PLAYERS AND THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1964 IN VE N TOR Gasfave Ren e MIGNAUL 7' QM M PATENT AGENT United States Patent "ice Claims. (Cl. 2-24 The present invention relates to improvements in limb protectors specially designed for hockey players, but which are also applicable to protectors used by other sports players, such as football players.

The present invention relates more specifically to that part of a limb protector covering the articulation or joint, such as the knee or elbow. In conventional protectors, these joint cover-ing parts of the protector lack in flexibility and hinder the free arm or leg movement of the players when they are desigied to fully cover the joint to protect the same, or else they are made too small in their side portions, whereby what they gain in flexibility they lose in protecting efficiency.

'It is, therefore, the general object of the present invention to provide a limb protector which has a joint covering and protecting part, having a maximum of flexibility and, at the same time, very efficient protective cfliciency in the side parts of the protector as well as on its main top part.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a protector of the character described, which is relatively inexpensive and yet of durable construction.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an elbow protector, in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section of the same on a larger scale; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a leg protector made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicates like elements throughout, an elbow protector in accordance with the invention will be more specifically described, but the same principles of construction apply as well to a leg protector.

The elbow protector is generally indicated at 1 and comprises a body which is longitudinally curved and has a generally U-shaped cross-section. This body provides an outer part 2, of generally rectangular shape, and which is heavily padded; for instance, said outer part 2 may consist of a longitudinally curved rectangular fiber or plastic plate 3 which is straight in transverse section and which is sandwiched between two layers 4 of foamplastic, foam-rubber, or the like padding material.

This part 2 has an outer covering 5 of leather, plastic, or other flexible and scuE-resistant material. The end edges and longitudinal edges of the outer leather layer 5 are stitched at 6 and 7 respectively to a leather layer 8 which may extend or not underneath the outer part 2, but which protrudes longitudinally outwardly from outer part 2 to form end portions 9 and laterally of the same to form lateral parts 10, adapted to overlie the sides of the limb joint, namely the elbow joint.

A cotton backing 11 extends underneath the outer part 2 and lines also the end portions 9 and the lateral parts 10. Said end portions 9 and lateral parts are padded, for instance, with foam-plastic, foam-rubber, or the like padding material, as indicated at 12 in FIGURE 2.

3,259,910 Patented July 12, 1966 Lateral parts 10 and end portions 9 extend through substantially half a circle to protect the sides of the elbow joint. As in conventional constructions, the protector is held on the elbow by means of elastic bands 13, secured to the side edges of the parts 10 in the end portions 9.

In protectors of conventional construction, the lateral parts 10 extend continuously from one end portion 9 to the other and, therefore, because the protector must have a U-shape, these conventional protectors lack in flexibility and hinder the bending movements of the arm.

In accordance with the invention, the lateral parts 10 are each provided with a deep V-shaped notch in the central portion thereof, defined by the curved converging edges 14 of said lateral parts 10. The apex 15 of the notch is substantially at the level of that part of the cotton backing .11 covering the outer part 2. Thus, when the protector is bent, the edges 14 simply move one towards the other.

In order to protect the sides of the elbow joint of the user in the region of the V-shaped notch of the lateral parts 10, a padded flange 16, of generally triangular shape, overlies the notch and is stitched between the outer part 2 and the leather layer 8 by the longitudinal line of stitching 7; otherwise, each flange extends freely over the lateral part 10 and the V-shaped notch separating the same in two portions.

Preferably, apertured tongues 17 extend over both flanges '16 and are stitched by the line of stitching 7 and are adapted to be connected by a strap passing over the inside of the elbow joint, to more firmly secure the protector in position.

A layer 18 of padding material, such as foam-plastic and the like, lines the inside of the outer part 2 and extends from one end portion 9 to the other, being stitched to said end portions by the lines of stitching 19. Layer 18 is provided with a central circular hole 20 for receiving the elbow proper, which serves to further maintain the protector in position.

An additional piece of padding 21, of foam-plastic or the like, is freely inserted between layer 18 and the cotton padding 11 opposite hole 20 for further padding the elbow proper.

The principles of construction in accordance with the present invention are also applicable to the manufacture of a leg pro-tector, as generally shown at 22 in FIGURE 3. This protector comprises a leg covering part 23, preferably made of rigid material, such as fiber or plastic, and having reinforcing ribs 24. The protector also has a thigh protecting part 25 extending above the knee and also made of fiber or plastic, and preferably covered with leather or flexible plastic.

The portion joining parts 23 and 25 and adapted to overlie the knee is made in accordance with the invention. This portion comprises, as in the elbow protector, an outer part 2' of padded material and, preferably, reinforced with a fiber or plastic plate, lateral parts 10' which are provided with a V-shaped notch, in turn covered by a flange 16 overlying the notch and a portion of the lateral parts 10' on each side of the notch.

The leg protector may also be provided with apertu-red tongues 17 for securing the protector in position by means of a strap passing over the inside of the knee.

While preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A limb protector for hockey players and the like, comprising a padded limb joint covering member having an outer part adapted to cover the outside portion of a limb joint and side parts adapted to cover the side portions of said limb joint, said side parts each having a V- notch made intermediate their ends, said notch having its apex adjacent said outer part and its edges adapted to move together upon bending of said limb joint, and padded flanges depending from said outer part at the sides thereof and freely over-lying said notches.

2. A limb protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer part is substantially straight in transverse crosssection.

3. A limb protector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outer part has a curved longitudinal section.

4. A limb protector as claimed in claim 1, further including tongues having an aperture at the end thereof and secured to said outer part and freely overlying said padded flanges for receiving a strap connecting said tongues and passing over the inside of the limb joint.

5. A limb protector as claimed in claim 1, further including a layer of padding material freely overlying. the inside of said outer part and secured at its ends to the ends of said outer part, said layer having a central hole for receiving a portion of the limb joint.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,862,303 6/1932 Glahe. 2,188,718 1/1940 Jung 224 2,377,339 6/1945 Greene 224 2,982,968 5/1961 Groot 222 3,135,964- 6/1964 .Peuder 2 -22 3,189,919 6/ 1965 Chase 222 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

J. R. BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LIMB PROTECTOR FOR HOCKEY PLAYERS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A PADDED LIMB JOINT COVERING MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER PART ADAPTED TO COVER THE OUTSIDE PORTION OF A LIMB JOINT AND SIDE PARTS ADAPTED TO COVER THE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID LIMB JOINT, SAID SIDE PARTS EACH HAVING A VNOTCH MADE INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, SAID NOTCH HAVING ITS APEX ADJACENT SAID OUTER PART AND ITS EDGES ADAPTED TO MOVE TOGETHER UPON BENDING OF SAID LIMB JOINT, AND PADDED FLANGES DEPENDING FROM SAID OUTER PART AT THE SIDES THEREOF AND FREELY OVERLYING SAID NOTCHES. 